Esha while watching television ate around 1 kg packet of potato chips some cold drinks etc. after a while when she realised that she had finished an entire or giant packet of chips she regretted it and went to the washroom to puke but her inability to puke made her upset and gave unseal thoughts of being overweight etc.
This wasn’t the first time she has been feeling this, this attitude prevailed for a much longer period making her sick and uncontrollable of her desire of eating way too much than required or obligatory.
The condition of Esha is described as a Binge Eating disorder.
Are you one like Esha who is also suffering from an eating disorder as such?
First, let us know what is eating disorder is.
Eating disorders are disorders characterised by the conditions relating to the persistent feeling of eating behaviours that negatively impact our health our emotions and our ability to function in the important areas of life.
The most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.
Most eating disorders are characterised by an unhealthy obsession with food, body image, and weight. These actions can have a serious negative effect on your body's capacity to absorb the proper nutrients. Eating disorders can cause various ailments and affect the heart, gastrointestinal tract, bones, teeth, and mouth.
What causes eating disorders?
The emergence of eating disorders is influenced by a combination of genetics, environment, and social factors. When they feel that other elements of their lives are out of control, some persons with eating disorders may resort to drastic tactics to regulate their intake of food. Obsession with food develops into an undesirable coping mechanism for difficult sentiments or emotions. Therefore, rather than being about food, eating disorders are more about finding appropriate ways to manage your emotions.
Types of eating disorders
There are different types of eating disorders that are commonly seen or present in people who are suffering from eating disorders.
1. Anorexia nervosa
The DSM-5 states that to be diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, a person must have a disturbance in their perception of their body weight or shape, engage in persistent energy intake restriction, have an intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat or being persistently engaging in behaviour that prevents weight gain.
Although this is not always the case, these people frequently have body weights that are "below a minimally normal level for age, sex, developmental trajectory, and physical health." You can't tell if someone has anorexia just by looking at their physical appearance.
2. Bulimia nervosa
Recurring episodes of binge eating, recurrent improper compensatory measures to prevent weight gain, and self-evaluation that is overly influenced by body form and weight" are three key characteristics of bulimia nervosa.
To be diagnosed, a person needs to exhibit these behaviours at least once a week for three months.
About the first characteristic, a binge is defined as "eating an amount of food in a discrete period that is larger than what most people would eat in a similar period under similar circumstances," as well as feeling "a sense of lack of control overeating during the episode."
3. Binge eating disorder
The person with a binge eating disorder exhibits a loss of control over their eating. They consume a lot of food in a short length of time, or they think they have. However, they don't purge food or burn off calories through exercise after bingeing. Instead, they experience uncomfortable satiety and could battle despair, regret, or guilt.
4. Avoidant / restrictive food intake disorder
A long-standing disorder has a new name: avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). The phrase has taken the place of the diagnosis known as "feeding disorder of infancy and early childhood," which was previously limited to kids between the ages of 7 to 17. People who have this disorder have problematic eating because they are either not interested in eating or dislike particular tastes, scents, colours, textures, or temperatures.
5. Rumination disorder
The hallmark of rumination disorder is "repeated vomiting of food occurring after feeding or eating for at least one month." Rumination Disorder is characterised by the regurgitation of previously eaten food without any discernible signs of motion sickness, involuntary retching, or disgust.
What are the emotional and Behavioral symptoms of eating disorders?
Our body reacts to different things or situations in different ways resulting in various behavioural and emotional symptoms which further contribute to eating disorders.
Our decisions and behaviours, psychological health, cognitive wellbeing, and physical health are all intricately connected and have an impact on one another. The emotional and behavioural signs listed below may point to someone who is battling an eating disorder thoughts or habits.
Behavioral symptoms of eating disorders
1. Extreme mood swings
2. Checking in the mirror often
3. Skipping meals
4. Eating alone or hiding food
5. Intense fear of gaining weight
6. Distorted body image
8. Beliefs, attitudes, or decisions that point to a focus on dieting, controlling calories, or eating habits.
Physical warning signs of eating disorders which are ALARMING
1. Severs constipation
2. Low blood pressure
3. Slowed breathing and pulse rate
4. Dry yellowish skin
5. Loss of menstrual cycle
6. Stomach/ gastrointestinal issues
7. Muscle weakness
8. Impaired immune system
How to treat an eating disorder?
Effective treatment of eating disorders includes regular and adequate nutrition.
1. Your therapy program must include a non-negotiable aspect of proper nutrition. The key to your treatment is regaining a healthy weight and supplying your body with the nutrition it requires to stay healthy. You will be assisted in doing this by your healthcare team.
2. Intake of balanced food substitutes, such as liquids that are high in protein and energy should be consumed if you are unable to eat or refuse food. Food replacements are typically avoided because getting you to eat regular foods again is the main objective.
3. To help lessen or get rid of disordered behaviour including binge eating, purging, and restricting, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) may be suggested. CBT entails discovering and altering distorted or harmful thought processes.
4. It's crucial to replace strict restrictions concerning food and eating with better ones because they feed eating disorders. If you have a rule that says you can't eat any sweets, for instance, consider changing it to something more flexible like, "I won't have dessert every day." by indulging in the occasional cookie or ice cream, you won't put on weight.
5. Discourage dieting, you’re more prone to become distracted and even obsessed with food if you restrict it more. So instead of concentrating on what you "shouldn't" consume, concentrate on nourishing foods that will provide you energy and strengthen your body. Consider food as the body's fuel. Listen to your body; it will alert you when the tank is low. Eat just when you are hungry, and only until you are satisfied.
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